MOONBOUND Beauty under a curse

The telling

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*FLASHBACKS FOR LUCIAN - HOW He KNOWS SHE'S HALF-FAE*

*FLASHBACK 1: 3 YEARS AGO - THE TRUCE MEETING*

_Lucian POV_

I was 19. New Alpha.

Her mother came to Silver Hollow alone. No guards.

"Please," she said. "My daughter. She’s sick."

She showed me Ana. 16 years old. Burning up. Silver scars on her arms.

"This isn’t werewolf sickness," I said.

"No," her mom whispered. "She’s half-fae. My fault. I fell in love with the wrong man."

"If Frostwood finds out—"

"They’ll kill her. Use her. Please. Lock her wolf. Hide her. I’ll take her away."

I looked at the girl. She was terrified.

"Lucas," I said. "Can we help?"

_‘Yes,’_ Lucas said. _‘But it’ll cost us.’_

That night, we made a deal. I’d hide her.

Her mom disappeared 6 months later. Frostwood killed her.

*FLASHBACK 2: 2 MONTHS AGO - THE LETTER*

_Lucian POV_

A letter arrived. No sender.

"Lucian,

If you’re reading this, I’m gone.

The trial. 6 nights. 10ft to 0. It’s the only way to save her.

The fae in her is waking. If she doesn’t bond to you, to an Alpha, the Frostwood ritual will kill her.

Lock the wolf. Keep her safe.

- L"

I burned it. But I remembered every word.

_‘6 nights,’_ Lucas said. _‘It starts soon.’_

*FLASHBACK 3: NIGHT 1 - THE SCARS*

_Lucian POV_

When she rolled up her sleeves that first night, I saw them.

Silver. Glowing.

Fae marks.

_‘It’s started,’_ Lucas said. _‘Night 1.’_

That’s when I knew we had 6 nights. Or she dies.

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*CHAPTER TWELVE: NIGHT 4 OF 6 - THE TELLING*

* iANA POV*

Night 4.

They moved us. Basement room. No windows. 3 feet apart.

The pain was unbearable.

"Closer," I gritted out. "I need—"

"No." Lucian’s voice was rough.

The door was guarded now. 3 people.

Because of the spy.

"Tell me," I said. "What did he mean. Fae?"

Lucian stared at the floor.

For a long time.

Then he looked up. Gold eyes tired.

"Your mother came to me 3 years ago."

My world stopped.

"What?"

"She told me what you are."

"Which is?"

"Half-fae, Ana."

I laughed. It came out wrong.

"That’s not funny."

"I’m not laughing."

"My mom was human."

"Was she?"

He told me. Everything.

The meeting. The letter. The trial.

"Night 6," he said. "If we don’t complete it, Frostwood will take you. For a ritual."

Tears fell.

"Why didn’t you tell me?"

"Because you’d run. And you’d die."

The whisper came again in my chest.

_‘...cold...’_

Louder this time.

"Lucian," I whispered. "There’s something in me. It’s been talking."

He went still.

"What did it say?"

"Just... cold. And my name."

He closed his eyes.

"That’s your wolf."

"What?"

"Mia. That’s her name. Your mother named her."

3 feet between us.

And I finally understood why it hurt so much.

- LUCIAN POV*

Telling her was the worst thing I’ve ever done.

"Half-fae, Ana."

Her face broke.

I told her about her mother. About the letter. About Night 6.

_‘Be gentle,’_ Lucas said. _‘She’s shattering.’_

Then she said it.

"There’s something in me. It’s been talking."

_‘MIA,’_ Lucas howled. _‘SHE CAN HEAR HER.’_

"That’s your wolf," I said. "Mia."

She cried. Not loud. Just silent tears.

"She’s been locked. All this time. Because of me."

"Because Frostwood would kill her."

3 feet.

She looked up at me.

"Is that why it hurts less when you’re closer?"

"Yes."

_‘Night 4,’_ Lucas said. _‘2 more feet to go.’_

She didn’t move closer.

But she didn’t move away either.

And for the first time, she said her name.

"Mia?"

In my head, Lucas whined.

From inside her, something answered.

Faint.

_‘...mate...’_

Night 4.

She knows what she is.

She knows her wolf’s name.

2 nights left.

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*End of Chapter 12*

S